AS local communities, including Eastington and Cam, contemplate the current proposals for house building in Stroud district, I took an opportunity to highlight the impact on planning through the Localism Act and other related measures.

Through a written parliamentary question, I asked the Department for Communities and Local Government for clarification on the level of additional autonomy given to councils in deciding the nature and scale of housing developments.

The answer was emphatically in support of the role of local people in making planning decisions, underpinned by noting the abolition of the much vaunted but also frequently derided Regional Spatial Strategies of the last Labour Government.

Of course, we need more housing but development plans must be justified by evidence, and informed by community views and priorities.

This is why the Coalition Government's Housing Strategy, released last November is so important.

A central reason for localism is the now recognised need for bottom-up‚ approaches to providing houses because of the intense dislike of arbitrary targets, rules about density and a virtual planning by appeal‚ mentality.

Tools and incentives available to local communities include the New Homes Bonus - allowing communities to benefit from additional housing, improved access to public sector land and, above all, Neighbourhood Planning - giving communities a new way to work together and decide the future of places where they live and work.

It is for these reasons that I welcome the debate about the plans for new housing in the district.

I am very pleased that parish councils and local community groups - exemplified by Eastington - are engaging with Stroud District Council in order to work towards a planning outcome which reflects the views of local people and provides for sustainable development.

I am determined to ensure that local people can play their part in shaping their environment and local economy. The available tools are new now but will soon become familiar and powerful.

If you would like to discuss the issues raised above, please contact me on 01453 751572 or visit my website at www.neilcarmichael.co.uk